Overview

Calvin's four-year pre-physical therapy program will prepare you for entrance into a graduate-level program at a variety of schools. Because admission to physical therapy schools is so competitive, it is is important that you meet with a program advisor as soon as possible before registering for courses. This will ensure that you choose the right courses to prepare for entrance to your preferred program. You will also be advised to gain clinical experience by working with a licensed physical therapist.

Each year, two spots at Central Michigan University's Dow College of Health Professions Physical Therapy Program are held for Calvin College students who meet their admissions requirements.

Careers in Pre-Physical Therapy

• Neuro-rehabilitator
• Out-patient therapist
• Health Club Manager/Owner
• Pediatric physical therapist
• More

See job placement rates for Calvin grads.

Student involvement

Volunteer at local schools, hospitals and senior centers; Get hands-on experience as a personal trainer for a faculty or staff member; Join a varsity or intramural team; Help Calvin host the Special Olympics.

Course Requirements 2012-13

Pre-Physical Therapy

Students wishing to enter the field of physical therapy (PT) must complete a master's degree (MSPT) or a doctoral degree (DPT) in physical therapy. Beginning in the year-2020, a DPT will be required for entrance into the profession. Students at Calvin can prepare to complete this degree by completing the prerequisite courses for their programs of interest in conjunction with a degree program in any discipline. Students then attend graduate school. Admission to graduate programs in physical therapy is very competitive. Calvin has developed an articulation agreement with the Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow College of Health Professions Physical Therapy Program at Central Michigan University (CMU). Under this agreement, CMU will guarantee acceptance for up to two Calvin students per year who have met their requirements.

The prerequisite courses depend on the graduate school to which students wish to apply; therefore, students should obtain a list of requirements for each of the graduate schools in which they are interested. Below is a sample list of prerequisite classes for non-biology majors. Students are encouraged to contact an advisor of the pre-physical therapy program, N. Meyer or J. Walton, of the Kinesiology department, (Biology majors can contact A. Wilstermann) before they register for classes. Students must also work or volunteer with patients under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist. This can be arranged through the Service-Learning Center at Calvin.

Scholarships

Dollar amounts reflect awards given for the 2012-13 academic year.

Bretton and Kimberly Bolt Family Scholarship

• award amount: $2,200
• junior or senior nursing or speech pathology major or pursuing a pre-physical therapy, or pre-occupational therapy program or other fields focused on care of the elderly
• GPA 3.0+
• financial need required; preference to those who volunteer or work at a skilled nursing facility
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Kathryn De Weerd Memorial Scholarship

• award amount: $1,900
• junior or senior
• GPA 3.0+
• financial need considered; planning to pursue a career in chiropractic or osteopathic medicine or physical therapy
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Dr. Paul and Mrs. Doris Dirkse Health Care Scholarship

• award amount: $1,900
• junior or senior
• good academic record
• financial need considered; Christian character; motivation; potential for service
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Keuning Scholarship

• amount of award: N/A
• junior or senior
• GPA 2.5+
• financial need considered; receiving services from office of services to students with disabilities
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Drs. Richard James and Susan Beving Strikwerda Scholarship

• award amount: $2,000
• junior or senior
• GPA 3.5+
• financial need not required; preference to graduates of Holland Christian HS, David Glasgow Farragut HS, or Montgomery County Public HS
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Steven M. Zifferblatt Memorial Scholarship

• award amount: $4,700
• senior
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need not required; pursuing a career in a health care profession
• apply through the Calvin Portal

View all scholarship opportunities

Faculty

Eric Arnoys Associate Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry DH 233 earnoys@calvin.edu (616) 526-6051 David Benson Associate Professor of Chemistry Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry DH 303 deb22@calvin.edu (616) 526-7699 Ronald Blankespoor Professor of Chemistry Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry DH 227 blan@calvin.edu (616) 526-6174 John Brink Professor of Psychology Department of Psychology SB 326 brnk@calvin.edu (616) 526-6627 Laura DeHaan Professor Department of Psychology SB 375 ldehaan@calvin.edu (616) 526-8689 Randall DeJong Assistant Professor Department of Biology DH 109 rdejong@calvin.edu (616) 526-7625 Roger DeKock Professor Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry DH 301 dekock@calvin.edu (616) 526-6344 Herbert Fynewever Associate Professor Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry DH 229 hrf3@calvin.edu (616) 526-7711 Loren Haarsma Associate Professor Department of Physics and Astronomy SB 260 lhaarsma@calvin.edu (616) 526-8517 Paul Harper Associate Professor Department of Physics and Astronomy SB 161 pharper@calvin.edu (616) 526-6408 Emily Helder Assistant Professor Department of Psychology SB 326 emily.helder@calvin.edu (616) 526-6396 Jonathan Hill Assistant Professor Department of Sociology SC 217 jph27@calvin.edu (616) 526-7259 David Koetje Professor Department of Biology DH 105 dkoetje@calvin.edu (616) 526-7047 Elisha Marr Assistant Professor Department of Sociology SC 213 emm24@calvin.edu (616) 526-7019 Nancy Meyer Professor, Women's Athletic Director Department of Kinesiology meyn@calvin.edu (616) 526-6224

Paul Moes Professor Department of Psychology SB 360 pmoes@calvin.edu (616) 526-8672 Pam Plantinga Teaching Staff Department of Mathematics and Statistics pplantin@calvin.edu (616) 526-8643 Randall Pruim Professor Department of Mathematics and Statistics NH 284 rpruim@calvin.edu (616) 526-7113 Thomas Scofield Associate Professor Department of Mathematics and Statistics NH 281 scofield@calvin.edu (616) 526-6856 Anding Shen Associate Professor, on leave fall 2012 Department of Biology DH 209 as28@calvin.edu (616) 526-6025 Allen Shoemaker Professor Department of Psychology SB 344 shoe@calvin.edu (616) 526-8536 Kumar Sinniah Professor Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry DH 225 ksinniah@calvin.edu (616) 526-6058 Donald Tellinghuisen Professor Department of Psychology SB 361 dtelling@calvin.edu (616) 526-6745 Peter Tigchelaar Professor Department of Biology DH 107 ptigch@calvin.edu (616) 526-6346 Randall Van Dragt Professor Department of Biology DH 113 vdra@calvin.edu (616) 526-6497 Douglas Vander Griend Associate Professor Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry DH 231 dav4@calvin.edu (616) 526-8729 Julie Walton Professor, sabbatical fall Department of Kinesiology jwalton@calvin.edu 526-6164 Amy Wilstermann Associate Professor Department of Biology DH 129 amw26@calvin.edu (616) 526-7620 Julie Yonker Assistant Professor Department of Psychology SB 380 jey2@calvin.edu (616) 526-7668